COMMON NAME(S): Lynx

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Felis lynx

CLASSIFICATION: Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Canivora
Family: Felidae

DESCRIPTION: Length: 3-3.5 feet
Height at the shoulder: 1.5-2 feet
Weight: 12-35 pounds
General: The basic color of the lynx is a soft smoky gray, sometimes intermixed with shadings of tan. Black spots or streaks cover the body. They have an exceptionally large face, long ear tufts, a 6" long tail with a solid black tip and large feet that rival those of a cougar in size.

RANGE: Alaska, Canada and into some northern U.S. states including the northern Rockies and Cascades.

HABITAT: Forested regions.

STATUS: General: Secure.
               WA State: Threatened.

DIET: Consists predominantly of snowshoe hare (when they are abundant) and small mammals, reptiles, invertebrates and occasionally prey as large as deer.

REPRODUCTION: Breeding season extends from January to March. The gestation period is about nine to10 weeks. Generally, the female will give birth to three to five kittens. At birth, newborns weigh only a few ounces.

LIFE SPAN: About 15 years.

BEHAVIOR: The population numbers of lynx are often closely tied to the number of snowshoe hare, their primary prey. Food shortages or other intervening factors that cause hare populations to plummet have a devastating impact on lynx. With food scarce, lynx numbers decline. Lynx normally produce very few vocalizations except for the cry of the estrous female. Lynx are much less aggressive than bobcats and normally do not share a common range. Their large feet and long hair allow them to adapt well to colder northern climates.

SOURCES: Fur Bearing Animals of North America, L. Lee Rue
Lives of Game Animals, Seton